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Tunisia: The troglodyte dwellings of Matmata

The Berber village Matmata in southern Tunisia is famous for its quaint underground houses and cave dwellings, which are pleasantly cool in summer and comfortably warm in winter.

Ahlem, four, climbs up a wall to reach her rabbit's hideaway at her troglodyte house on the outskirts of Matmata

A general view of troglodyte houses in Matmata, a Berber village in southern Tunisia

Saliha Mohamedi, 36, sits with her children at their troglodyte house on the outskirts of Matmata, Tunisia. "I don't want to leave my house, it would be as if I was throwing my life and my traditions away," she says

Mustapha, a 54-year-old farmer, sits in the corridor of his family's troglodyte house which has been converted to a warehouse

Aicha, 64, lays olives out to dry on the outskirts of the Tunisian village of Matmata

Tayeb, 76, sits inside his troglodyte home in Matmata, Tunisia. "Our home was open for tourists to visit, but now with the lack of tourists we don't earn anything. I don't want to leave my house, it's where I grew up," says Tayeb

Mounjia, 60, weaves a carpet at her troglodyte home in Matmata. "I don't want to leave my troglodyte house for a modern one, we could buy everything but not the peace of mind," says Mounjia

Saliha Mohamedi, 36, looks out from the kitchen of her troglodyte house on the outskirts of Matmata, Tunisia

Samar, 18, and Latifa Ben Yahia, 38, (C) shell peas as their brother watches television at their troglodyte house on the outskirts of Matmata

Mounjia, 60, poses for photographs in the kitchen of her troglodyte house in Matmata

Latifa Ben Yahia, 38, prepares vegetables to cook in the kitchen of her troglodyte house in Matmata, Tunisia

Saliha Mohamedi, 36, grinds wheat at her troglodyte house on the outskirts of Matmata, Tunisia

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